Learn how we prioritize snow clearing

During the winter, dedicated maintenance teams clear snow off:

• highways;
• government facilities; and 
• airports. 

We cannot clear every road, building and airport at the same time after a snowfall. We prioritize snow clearing based on: 

• safety;
• where people need access first; and 
• the crews available to do the work. 

Find out how we prioritize: 

• highways and roads; 
• driveway windrows; 
• government facilities; and 
• airports. 

Highways and roads 

Who clears the snow 

The Government of Yukon is responsible for snow clearing and winter maintenance on designated territorial highways and roads, including the Alaska Highway and certain roads within municipal boundaries. 

Municipal governments are generally responsible for snow clearing on municipal streets and roads. 

If you're unsure who maintains a particular road, contact your local municipality or email [email protected]. 

How we prioritize snow clearing 

Keeping our highways and roads safe is our highest priority. We decide which highways are plowed first based on:

• traffic volumes; 
• safety; and 
• the importance of the route to Yukon communities and businesses. 

We clear major highways, such as the Alaska Highway, first. Once crews clear main highways, they move on to secondary highways and roads. 

In some areas, more than 1 machine is needed to finish the work. For example, a grader may clear a road first and a loader may return later to remove remaining snow. This work may happen several hours or days apart. 

Check road conditions 

Visit 511Yukon for the latest reported highway conditions, including whether roads are bare, partly covered or snow-covered. 

Driveway entrances 

Snow cleared from the road may leave a ridge of snow, called a windrow, across your driveway entrance. 

We may clear windrows as a courtesy when:

• higher priority work is complete; 
• staff and equipment are available; and 
• weather conditions allow it. 

Crews follow established routes, which determines the timing of windrow clearing at your property. If it is not safe to clear a driveway entrance, operators may return later. 

Snow removal support for seniors 

Some Yukon residents may qualify for help with snow removal through their municipality or the Yukon Council on Aging's Home & Yard Program. You can check the Yukon Council on Aging’s website for program eligibility requirements. 

Government facilities 

We clear snow at government facilities in this order: 

1. Long-term care homes 
2. Ambulance stations 
3. Remaining government facilities, including schools (not prioritized individually; serviced by geographic area) 

Our 1st priority is keeping people safe. We clear: 

• primary entrances; 
• accessible entrances; 
• stairs and ramps; and 
• immediate access routes. 

We also apply sand to help reduce icy conditions. 

We clear lower-priority entrances, exits and other areas as staff, equipment and weather conditions allow. 

Both staff and contractors carry out snow clearing at government facilities. This means snow clearing schedules will vary by facility. 

Snow clearing schedules are determined by: 

• weather conditions; 
• snowfall levels; 
• building use; and 
• available resources. 

Airports 

Airport crews clear runways and other operating surfaces to keep airports safe. 

We clear certified airports based on operational priorities. 

While we maintain some community aerodromes after highways are cleared, others are not maintained during the winter.